The cycle starts at the Crossroad. This can be a tough place to be. Often your needs are not being met, you feel stuck or you can’t figure out what’s next. You want things to be better but you face obstacles. 

• You hate your boss but love your job.

• You are short on money, time or education.

• Your job is boring and below your ability.

• The list goes on….

The Crossroad can occur because of your personal, internal dissatisfaction or because of something external like a relocation or a bad personal relationship. It throws your life into a tail spin. Because of the uncertainty of your situation, your anxiety spikes. This is reflected by the Red Arrow that sits to the right of the Crossroad.

The best strategic step at this point is a period of Introspection. You realize you need to move forward and find a new identity, a new alignment with your capabilities, a new chapter in your life. You enter the Journey stage and your anxiety levels out a bit. It does not go away but it’s not running the show.

In the Journey stage you get curious. You expand your view of yourself. You might complete a self assessment and get very clear about your values, enjoyable skills, career interests and your temperament preferences. This exploration is validating. You begin to get a little excited and you move away from the struggle of the Crossroad. You are not stuck; now you are moving forward.

Then you Connect with the people who comfort and encourage you. You also seek out contrarians, people who hit you with tough questions. You gather information about your options. Basically, you are validating your gut instincts and reducing risk. Don’t be impulsive. Wait until you have all the facts to support an excellent career decision.

This is where you hit the Second Red Arrow on the cycle. You hunt around for guarantees that your career choice or change will be a success. Your anxiety tells you to hide under the covers in your bed. You don’t want to make a mistake! Never the less, you find your grit. 

You reach the Contract stage, the moment of truth. You:

• Quit your job.

• Declare a major.

• Start your own business.

• Go back to school.

• Pursue a long-held dream.

Standing on the other side of Contract is the Emerge Strategic action. You feel a burst of self-esteem because you stepped up. You are liberated in your new situation. The sky is the limit. At the same time, lots of things feel unstable and unfamiliar. You have some settling in to do. Find your new favorite coffee shop, get to know your new co-workers or find your way around a new city.

A few days, weeks or months go by and you are at the Home Stage. Because you were both prudent and courageous, you have achieved the success and satisfaction you were seeking. You are aligned with your talents. Home can last for a long time if you have honored each step of the cycle and made an excellent transition.

The last part of the cycle is a Pink Arrow and the Evolve Stage. This is the great unknown of your future. The economy could tank, your industry or field could be disrupted by new technology or you just might get bored and need to enter the Crossroad again. You are like a plant; you might need some new soil down the road.

The title of this blog, “Struggling to Find Your Career is a Necessary, Healthy Pain in the Ass” is a comment on the real and challenging process of good career decision making. Now that you know about the cycle, you can stop feeling crazy and get on with your amazing life.